More than 450 jobs at the Vale of Glamorgan council are threatened as the organisation looks to make cuts of £32m in 36 months

Hundreds of council jobs face the act as a local authority looks to make savings of more than £30m in the next three years.

More than 450 jobs at the Vale of Glamorgan council are threatened as the organisation looks to make cuts of £32m in 36 months.

A report presented to Vale council leaders has set out the massive financial challenge the body faces.

The council’s medium term financial plan for the period 2014/15 to 2017/18 warns that reduced Welsh Government funding will put additional pressure on services and jobs.

Council leaders have already agreed a programme to “reshape” council services, bringing in volunteers and private companies and joint working with neighbouring authorities.

In his report to the council’s cabinet, council leader Neil Moore said: “The plan is currently indicating a significant increased shortfall of available funding to 2017/18 and requires £32m of savings to be found between 2015/16 and 2017/18.”

He said the impact on staffing levels of the identified savings could see a loss of up to 150 full time equivalent jobs.

He said: “However, there still remains £14.1m of savings yet to be identified and therefore the eventual impact on job numbers could be much greater.

“If two thirds of the remaining projected shortfall of £14.1m was met by staff reductions, based upon an estimate average salary of £30,000, this would equate to a further reduction of approximately 313 FTEs.”

Coun Moore added: “It will be important to ensure that appropriate engagement takes place with the trades unions in relation to the staffing implications of this report.

“The level of engagement may increase over the coming months as the more detailed change proposals within service areas emerge. Such engagement will help to explore ways of reducing any adverse implications for staff.”

The council is looking to use at least £4m from its financial reserves, although this figure could rise.

Plaid Cymru councillor and finance spokesman Ian Johnson said: “We know that the Vale of Glamorgan has substantial reserves and has increased council tax by 9.5% in the past two years – the highest increase in Wales, so we do not accept that these cuts should lead to a reduced service to the public, and we hope that compulsory redundancies will be avoided.”

Rowan Hughes, chairman of Unison in the Vale of Glamorgan said: “I have been in local government for 30 years and these are the most severe cuts I have seen. One department after another is seeing quite savage cuts, but some are being hit worse than others.”

He was not optimistic that the promised “appropriate engagement” would be fruitful. He said: “We get the impression that the cuts are being driven through regardless and it will not be meaningful consultation.”

Meanwhile, union members are today holding a demonstration outside the Civic Offices, in Barry, in protest against a one per cent pay rise offer.

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